“This group carrying student debt is postponing their home ownership. They’re going through a lot of economic difficulty — much more than any previous generation,” Lin said.

Almost half of those polled in one national survey said student loan debt is a key obstacle in buying a home.

But what can be done?

Prof. Lin suggests that — along with lowering interest rates — the federal government should lengthen the grace period after graduation before loan payments begin. Lin believes this would give graduates time to find a good job in a career they will stay with, instead of taking the first job they can find just to cover their loan payments.